Hi Fausto,

I've been doing research and I found these waterproof enclosures.. they might make things easier for you than cutting the resin to examine the cells.

Search "clear project box" on ebay.. here is one I might use.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/85x58x33mm-Waterproof-Cover-Clear-Plastic-Electronic-Project-Box-Enclosure-CASE-/281390875149?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item418434020d

Keep up your great work.. I just finished watching your latest youtube video.

Quote from: 4Tesla on September 24, 2014, 09:35:24 PM
Hi Fausto,

I've been doing research and I found these waterproof enclosures.. they might make things easier for you than cutting the resin to examine the cells.

Search "clear project box" on ebay.. here is one I might use.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/85x58x33mm-Waterproof-Cover-Clear-Plastic-Electronic-Project-Box-Enclosure-CASE-/281390875149?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item418434020d

Keep up your great work.. I just finished watching your latest youtube video.

Thanks for the link.  I think I might be able to use these on my latest project.

Bill

Quote from: 4Tesla on September 24, 2014, 09:35:24 PM
Hi Fausto,

I've been doing research and I found these waterproof enclosures.. they might make things easier for you than cutting the resin to examine the cells.

Search "clear project box" on ebay.. here is one I might use.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/85x58x33mm-Waterproof-Cover-Clear-Plastic-Electronic-Project-Box-Enclosure-CASE-/281390875149?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item418434020d

Keep up your great work.. I just finished watching your latest youtube video.

Great. Thank you. I will give it a try. Great find.

Fausto.

Hi every one: I am new to posting but not new to the field.  I have been working on my own crystal cells for more than 4 years and a year ago I dropped the research because of the same results as others,  short life span. The corrosion problem with the plates.  About 3 or 4 months ago I decided to do some more research and I have had great results with the cell plates not corroding as before and I have achieved over 1.2 volts out of using aluminum and copper.  Which I never had much success over .6 volts if I was lucky and only lasted a short time before dieing as others have experienced.  My latest cell I just completed today is running a modified joule thief at 1.169 volts and it will produce .5 amps shorted.  I have had other cells working for about a month now with out showing any signs of corrosion or dieing. They have gotten better as time goes on.  I have shared this info with one other member on a personal basis so he could try this out for him self.  I have since decided to share my information with the group so you can try this out if you want.  I know from experience that time is the real teller of the true story but I am impressed that with the compound I am using I have noticed the great increase in voltage.  I also used the same compound in the lead acid conversion instead of using the alum and I am getting 12.5 volts at over 10 amps.  I also had an old 1.2 volt commercial Nickle cadmium battery used in cell phone towers.  I removed the plates and cleaned out and added this compound and I am getting 1.4 volts at around 5 amps.  Well so much for the talk.

I am using a compound sodium meta silicate.  You can get it locally at the ace hardware store under the name of tsp/90.  It is around 4.00 a pound but if you order the 4 lb bag it is only 10.00.  The stuff sets up like concrete with just distilled water.  No heating.  All you get with heating is foam and it won't set. 

I first just used the aluminum untreated as I call it.  and I did heat the copper to get the copper oxide coating.  I got great success with just this first try.  I was getting around 1.9 volts out but low current and I had the corrosion problem with the aluminum..  I was on youtube and ran across a video from a german fellow that was trying to set up a company and sell his crystal cells.  He was using aluminum and copper as well.  He would not disclose the chemical but he did show a detailed diagram of the inside of the cell.  I noticed he was showing a barrier between the aluminum and the compound.  With further research I found that it was aluminum oxide. 

So I put the aluminum plate in a solution of borax and distilled water and made the aluminum plate positive and used a carbon rod for the negative.  I used a 12 volt battery and left it work for 1/2 hour.  I now had a thick coating of aluminum oxide on the plate.  I let it dry for a while and built a new cell.  I got around 1.75 volts at about 25 ma.  with out the corrosion problem.  The cell just got better as time went on.  It starts working great after about 24 hours.  The next thing I did was to get the current up was I added a weak solution of sodium hydroxide when I made the cell instead of the plain water.  My current went up to around 125 to 150 ma.  I also apply a voltage twice the cell voltage while the mixture is setting up.  When the fizzing stops about after 2 hours and the cell is set I remove the voltage and let the cell settle to its working voltage.  I will be a little lower at first then in the morning it is up to its resting voltage.  I use 1/2 tsp of sodium hydroxide to 4oz water.  Any more you will have a fizzing mess and it won't set up.  I have since added portland cement to the mix half and half and after set I seal it with wax.  The cement doesn't affect the cells response but it does set up harder and is more durable. 

The circuit I included is the modified joule thief I designed using the capret and It will run the led and charge the crystal cell at the same time.  I am looking at one now on my bench and has been running all day at 1.169 volts.  Well that is all I have at the moment.  Just wanted to share.  I know that time will tell but I am real happy with what I have witnessed at this moment.  I will be glad to answer questions.   Thanks.  If this has already been tried I am sorry for wasting your time.     

Hi again.  Just noticed that I didn't label the capret.  It is a 470 uf capacitor at 35 volts.  I have been using these to run an Led on rechargeable battery and it keeps them charged.  Have been using them on about 6 different battery from small nicads to larger lead acid cells and they have been running for over a month and the battery voltage has not dropped.  So I decided to try it in a joule thief.  Between the capret and the additional joule thief coil between the supply and the joule thief osc it is keeping the cells up and running the LED.

Also I wanted to take this time to commend Plengo for all his great work!!!!!  I have all your videos in my archive and you have saved me a lot of wasted time.  They are one of my great treasures in crystal research!!!..  Again thanks for all your great effort and work!!!